Over the years, India has rapidly shifted its gear from being an agriculture dependent nation to industries and service delivery. The rapid industrialisation changed the lifestyle of people, resulting in an increased generation of solid wastes in both the rural and urban setting of the country. Although the solid waste generated in rural areas is more of a biodegradable nature, waste generated from urban areas contains more non-biodegradable components like plastics. Such material when dumped into landfills form toxic gases like methane. According to an ASSOCHAM report, India generates more than 1,00,000 metric tonnes of solid waste every day. As per the World Bank, the country’s daily waste generation will touch 3,77,000 tonnes by 2025.
In India, the onus to collect, transport, treat and dispose solid waste lies on the Municipal corporation. However, there is no source segregation of compostable waste from the non-biodegradable and recyclable waste. Most of the solid waste collected in India is dumped on landfills in an uncontrolled manner. Such inadequate disposal practices lead to problems that impair human and animal health and result in economic, environmental and biological losses.
Initiatives like smart bins have been initiated by the Municipal Corporations to tackle the situation in some places. These smart bins have twin underground chambers comprising of one biodegradable and one non-biodegradable waste. It is also fitted with sensors which send out alerts when a bin is about to get full. Nonetheless, the hefty cost of installing such bins and no mechanism of segregation of waste at the source makes it ineffective.
With the population growth, providing adequate infrastructure and new landfill is already a challenge. Most of the landfill sites are running beyond their capacity in metropolitan cities. Inadequate financial support to cater to waste management problem aggravates it. The waste management industry needs to implement solutions like composting that is sustainable and economically viable to the current waste management situation.
Composting can not only play a big role in reducing waste that is sent to landfills but also improves the soil conditions. Due to extensive construction and agriculture over the years, soil loses its permeability, nutrition and fertility. Through, composting the quality of soil can be improved significantly. Studies have shown that as much as 40% of our organic waste can be diverted from landfills if composted. Food scraps and yard waste make up 20 to 30 percent of what is thrown away and should be composted instead. Making compost keeps these materials out of landfills where they pile up and release methane.
Composting also reduces the decline in nitrogen availability when organic materials such as sawdust or straw are added directly into the soil. The process helps in recycling a lot of kitchen wastes, leftover crop residues, weeds and manures. Also, composting decreases the solubility of nutrients, which help in lessening the pollution in streams, lakes and groundwater. Compost material can be stored easily to be used optimally during any season as manures. Further, composting material reduces the amount of water consumed by the plants, reduce plant diseases and pests, lessening the need for expensive chemicals and pesticides.
To bring significant changes in the waste management ecosystem a more stringent waste prevention framework is needed to address wastage related issues. There is an urgent need for a well-defined strategic waste management plan with effective execution by the Resident Welfare Association (RWA) in every society. Sensitization of the community on the principles of segregating, recycling and awareness about composting is also essential to achieve the objectives. Further, the management of waste is not just the responsibility of the govt body or municipal corporations but we individually have to feel the responsibility of keeping the environment clean.
